PhotoStory 3 encoder profiles for DVD

[John Lauwers]

There is something very weird with the PhotoStory 3 encoder profiles for DVD (both NT=
SC and PAL). While all the others will give a fine result (for instance on a PC screen in=
1280x768 pixels format) these two produce a videofile in .WMV format with images tha=
t are so "fuzzy" that one wouldn't possibly dare to show it even to family or friends !!=
!

Changing one or more parameters with the Windows Media Profiles Editor doesn't help=
if you keep the same filename (using "save and close").
=

But if, without changing anything to the original profile, you "export" it and give i=
t another filename (for instance newDVDprofile.prx), this new profile which is in f=
act identical -except for the filename- to the original one, will produce a nice vide=
ofile with images as sharp as the pictures that were used to create the slideshow !!!

So it seems that behind the stage the PhotoStory 3 rendering software does something=
special (a "smoothing" of all the pictures, similar to what is called "feathering" i=
n Paint Shop Pro, but then on the whole surface) when using one of these two profiles. A=
nd this process is triggered only by the special content of these rather unusual file=
names: {3E54A8AB- =E2=80=A6 }.prx or {913A60D4 -=E2=80=A6}.prx =


It is almost impossible to think that this might be a bug, so it was done on purpose. But=
then why isn't all this documented by Microsoft? In fact this "smoothing" could be a n=
ice feature if the user would have some kind of key to control/attenuate the process.=
=


It would be very interesting for the many enthusiastic users of PhotoStory 3 all over=
the world if the Microsoft Software Design Team could give their comments on all this=
!!!

 

[Graham Hughes]

I doubt you'll get any software engineers reading this, but I'm sure it has
been well discussed in the past, try a search of past posts.
Have a look and see if papajohn has documented anything on his site
www.papajohn.org
I'm not sure if Dean blogged something, try here
http://blogs.msdn.com/deanro/archive/2006/02.aspx

Graham

--
Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.myvideoproblems.co.uk
www.dvds2treasure.com
www.simplydv.com


There is something very weird with the PhotoStory 3 encoder profiles for DVD
(both NTSC and PAL). While all the others will give a fine result (for
instance on a PC screen in 1280x768 pixels format) these two produce a
videofile in .WMV format with images that are so "fuzzy" that one wouldn't
possibly dare to show it even to family or friends !!!

Changing one or more parameters with the Windows Media Profiles Editor
doesn't help if you keep the same filename (using "save and close").

But if, without changing anything to the original profile, you "export" it
and give it another filename (for instance newDVDprofile.prx), this new
profile which is in fact identical -except for the filename- to the original
one, will produce a nice videofile with images as sharp as the pictures that
were used to create the slideshow !!!

So it seems that behind the stage the PhotoStory 3 rendering software does
something special (a "smoothing" of all the pictures, similar to what is
called "feathering" in Paint Shop Pro, but then on the whole surface) when
using one of these two profiles. And this process is triggered only by the
special content of these rather unusual filenames: {3E54A8AB- . }.prx or
{913A60D4 -.}.prx

It is almost impossible to think that this might be a bug, so it was done on
purpose. But then why isn't all this documented by Microsoft? In fact this
"smoothing" could be a nice feature if the user would have some kind of key
to control/attenuate the process.

It would be very interesting for the many enthusiastic users of PhotoStory 3
all over the world if the Microsoft Software Design Team could give their
comments on all this !!!